Spray device for use in mines



NOV. 3, HlxoN, SR SPRAY DEVICE FOR USE IN MINES Filed March 50, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l B arry 00077, 5.7:

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v1 di I I l Nov. 3, 1936. H. l-nxoN` SR SPRAY DEVICE FOR USE IN MINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (Ittomegs.

Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED vSTATES PATENT orrics 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in spray devices for use in mines, and has for an object to provide a device for throwing up a water or vapor screen in a mine to absorb noxious gases.

Due to the fact that all mine drifts have but one way for the gases, formed by blasting, to escape, and that, through this gas and dust, the miners must return several times in order to get their rounds completely placed, they consequent- 10 ly inhale some of these impurities, even with the use of respirators.

Also, the use of respirators by the miners who are blasting does not do away with the harmful eiects of their blasting, as this gas and dust 15 travels by ventilation currents and comes in contact with other miners not using respirators.

It is the purpose of the invention to lay this dust and absorb the gas by providing a water or vapor spray at an appropriate place in the mine.

O It is a further object of the invention to provide a portable spray device which may be moved forward as the blasting progresses.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved spray device which will be of simple construction, capable of ready application in use, and such as will produce a strong spray under relatively strong pressure so as to ll the entire cross-section of the drift to the end that the gases in any great volume will not be per- 30 mitted to pass such spray.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent to those skilled in this art, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and more particularly pointed out 35 in the appended claims.

' In the drawings, wherein like parts are denoted by the same reference characters throughout the several views,

Figure l is a longitudinal section through a 40 mine drift illustrating the position and use of an improved spray device constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-section through the drift showing the improved device in side view.

45 Figure 3 is a plan view, taken on an enlarged scale, with parts broken away and parts shown in section, of the improved spray device.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 3.

50 Figure 5 is a cross-section, taken on an enlarged scale on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan View showing a modified form of the device, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged plan View of the same 55 with parts broken away.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, Figures l and 2 show a mine drift with the blasting face so denominated in Figure l. The bottom of the drift is indicated at 8, the top of the drift at 9 and the side walls at I0. In the 5 drift is the railway-including the ties II and the rails I2. The improved device is in the nature of a pipe, of a portable character adapted to occupy the space between adjoining ties II and admitting of being thrust beneath the rails I2. In 10 Figures 1 and 2 the device is shown as projecting a spray of water, or water vapo-r, upwardly in a sheet of substantial thickness and under suitable pressure to cause the stream to impinge against the roof 9 of the drift. In Figure 2 the sheet is -15 shown to extend across the cross-section of the drift so that mo-st of the gases resulting from the blasting operation at the blasting face will be absorbed by the sheet of water.

Referring more particularly to Figures 3, 4, L and 5 the device is shown to comprise an outer tubular water jacket I3 and an inner air jacket I 4. The air jacket lf3 is of considerably smaller diameter than the water jacket I3 and such air jacket is provided with numerous minute perfo-rations I5 for directing the air out into the annular water chamber I6. Thence the water spray or water vapor formed by the commingled compressed air and water in the chamber I6 is caused to issue out forcibly through the perforations I1 and I8 in the outer pipe or tube I3.

It will be noted that there are two sets of perforations II and I8 and these perforations are also minute so that they will direct the air and water in a thin stream forcibly for a great distance sufcient to reach the top of the mine drift. The one set of perforations I1 is radially displaced from the other set I8. If it is desired these perforations may be staggered as indicated in Figure 3.

At one end the air jacket I4 is closed by an end 40 cap I9 and at the same end of the device the water jacket is closed by an end cap 20. These caps may be screwed on to the ends of the pipes or tubes so as to be removable or they may be applied in any other manner. These caps may be unscrewed for purposes of passing a cleaning instrument through the two tubes or jackets. At the other end of the water jacket I3 is a T-union 2l. This is of approximately the same diameter as the chamber I6 and water is received into this 50 chamber through a nipple 22 connecting by means of a threaded bushing 23 with the branch 24 of the union. Another union 25 provides for connection to a pipe or hose from the source of water supply.

The union 2I also serves as a support for the adjacent end of the air jacket I4. This end of the air jacket is screwed or otherwise fitted into a tubular coupling piece 26 which lies through a threaded bushing 21 screwed into the end of the union 2I. A high pressure nipple 28 is threaded into the coupling piece 26 and is also threaded into the elbow 29.

A bushing 30 connects the elbow 29 with a union 3|, which union serves to connect the device with a pipe, hose or the like from a source of compressed air supply.

Referring more particularly to Figures 6 and 7, the device herein shown provides for curves in the drift or track and in such instances the water jacket is made in sections ISEL and I3b. Also the air jacket is made in sections Il!a and Mb. These sections are brought together at the centers thereof, at which point they are coupled to angle unions 32 and 33. The pipe sections may simply be screwed into the unions. This forms a convenient construction also for enabling easy disassembly of the device, packing of the same within small compass for transportation and also enables the device to be more readily taken apart for purposes of cleaning.

After the miners have ignited the fuse and are leaving the face of the drift they turn on the water and air by appropriate valves (not shown) As the holes are blasted, the gas and dust are forced through this spray of water. The water in this state of division absorbs most of the gas and collects the dust, thus making the return to the face of the drift more endurable and healthy. Likewise the device has the eect to lessen the amount of gas and dust throughout the rest of the mine.

The dimensions of the various parts may be varied but a successful form consists of a halfinch pipe for the air jacket and a one and onehalf inch pipe for the water jacket. The holes drilled in both the water jacket and the air jacket are 5,/6i of an inch.

The line of holes I in the air jacket is not directly opposite the perforations Il and I8 but such line I5 is preferably one-sixth of a revolution to either side. By having this relative angular displacement, the compressed air is prevented from blowing straight from the inner air jacket I4 out the perforations I'I and I8 and is caused to comrningle more thoroughly and make a better mixture with the water.

Wherever the use of the word air is used, it will be understood that other appropriate gas is included; and other appropriate liquids besides Water are intended to be comprehended Within the term water or water jacket.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention and I do. not mean to limit the invention to such details except as particularly pointed out in the claims. i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent of the United States is:-

1. An improved spray device for use in mines comprising a horizontally disposed tubular water jacket having minute perforations along the upper portion thereof, and a tubular air jacket tted through said water jacket and having perforations therein angularly displaced with respect to the perforations in the water jacket.

2. An improved spray device for use in mines comprising a, horizontal tubular water jacket having perforations in its upper portion for directing a spray upwardly, means at the end portion of the water jacket for connecting the same with a supply of water, a compressed air jacket of smaller diameter than the water jacket tting through said water jacket and' having perforations therein out of radial alinement with the perforations in the water jacket, and means at the end portion of the air jacket for connecting same with a supply of air under pressure.

3. An improved spray device for use in mines comprising a tubular horizontally extending water jacket having two sets of perforations in its upper portion, means for connecting said water jacket with a source of water, the Ysets being displaced radially, an air jacket within the water jacket and having perforations communicating with the water jacket, which perforations are displaced angularly from both sets of water jacket perforations, and means for connecting said air jacket with a source of air under pressure.

4. An improved spray device for use in mines to prevent spreading of dust and gases comprising a horizontal tubular water jacket having perforations in its upper portion for directing a spray upwardly, a compressed air jacket of smaller diameter than the water jacket tting within said water jacket and having perforations therein out of radial alinement with the perforations of the water jacket, said water and air jackets being made in sections, elbows detachably connecting the sections with one jacket within the other, means for connecting the Water jacket with a water supply, and means for connecting the air jacket with a source of compressed air.

HARRY HIXON, SR. 

